Whether or not you think that Michael Keaton deserved the Best Actor Oscar for "Birdman," there’s no denying that winner Eddie Redmayne virtually transformed into Stephen Hawking for his performance in "The Theory Of Everything." What’s more, Academy voters might like what the actor is doing next in "The Danish Girl."
A first look from "The King’s Speech" and "Les Miserables" director Tom Hooper‘s next movie has arrived. Based on the novel by David Ebershoff and penned by Lucinda Coxon (Guillermo Del Toro‘s upcoming "Crimson Peak"), the film chronicles the first-ever sex-change patient, Einar Wegener, a Danish artist whose love affair with his wife —fellow Danish artist Gerda Wegener— set him on the path to an eventual male-to-female operation. The cast is rounded out by Matthias Schoenaerts, Alicia Vikander and Amber Heard, but it’s Redmayne’s work that is already grabbing attention.
"We’re looking at everything from a feminine perspective," the actor told The Daily Mail about his role as Wegener, revealing he’s once again working with his ‘Theory’ choreographer Alexandra Reynolds. "I think it’s the most sensitive role I have played."
And while there’s no release date yet, Redmayne will certainly be part of the awards season conversation if the film is up to scratch. But don’t think that the actor is just all about prestige projects now. He’s also voicing Thomas The Tank Engine in the straight-to-DVD "Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure."
"I grew up loving to watch Thomas and his pals getting caught up in unexpected and mischievous adventures. I jumped at the opportunity to get involved and what fun it was! I have never voiced an animated character before, and I had a complete blast," he said in a statement (via Yahoo). Is there anything Redmayne can’t do?
Update 3/4: Focus Features announced today they will release "The Danish Girl" in exclusive engagements in New York and Los Angeles beginning Friday, November 27th, 2015,